Textile bobbin and spindle assembly having a magnetic bobbin seater

ABSTRACT

In a textile bobbin and spindle assembly for rotating to effect winding or other processing of yarn on a bobbin, the combination of a spindle for receiving a hollow bobbin thereon and having a bobbin receiving upper portion and a lower portion of greater diameter than the bobbin and the upper portion for defining a generally flat seating surface extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle at the juncture of the upper and lower portions thereof, and a magnetic bobbin seater positioned on the spindle at the seating surface for rotation with the spindle and for receiving the lower metallic end of the bobbin. The magnetic bobbin seater comprises a magnetized member and a non-magnetized member so arranged for establishing a magnetic circuit which passes through the magnetized member, partially through the spindle and through the lower portion of the bobbin for magnetically seating the bobbin on the spindle for yarn processing and which permits easy breaking of the magnetic seating for easy doffing of the bobbin from the spindle.

United States Patent Whitehead TEXTILE BOBBIN AND SPINDLE ASSEMBLY HAVING A MAGNETIC BOBBIN SEATER [72] Inventor: Alvin C. Whitehead, Atlanta, Ga.

[73] Assignee: Spring Mills, Inc., Fort Mills, S.C.

[22] Filed: Nov. 19, 1970 [211 App]. No.: 91,029

[52] US. Cl ..242/46.2l, 242/464 [51] Int. Cl. ..B65h 75/30 [58] Field of Search ..242/46.2l, 46.2, 46.3, 46.4;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,525,478 8/1970 Whitehead, Sr. et

al ..242/46.2l 2,625,335 l/l953 Atwood ..242/46.2l 2,668,020 2/1954 Dunlap ..24 2/46.2 3,510,079 5/1970 Flowers ..242/46.2l

Primary ExaminerStanley N. Gilreath [4 1 Oct. 3, 1972 57 ABSTRACT In a textile bobbin and spindle assembly for rotating to effect winding or other processing; of yarn on a bobbin, the combination of a spindle for receiving a hollow bobbin thereon and having a bobbin receiving upper portion and a lower portion of greater diameter than the bobbin and the upper portion for defining a generally flat seating surface extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle at the juncture of the upper and lower portions thereof, and a magnetic bobbin seater positioned on the spindle at the seating surface for rotation with the spindle and for receiving the lower metallic end of the bobbin. The magnetic bobbin seater comprises a magnetized member and a non-magnetized member so arranged for establishing a magnetic circuit which passes through the magnetized member, partially through the spindle and through the lower portion of the bobbin for magnetically seating the bobbin on the spindle for yarn processing and which permits easy breaking of the magnetic seating for easy doffing of the bobbin from the spindle.

2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PKTENTEDHB I972 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR.

oz ART) ATTORNEYS TEXTILE BOBBIN AND SPINDLE ASSEMBLY HAVING A MAGNETIC BOBBIN SEATER This invention relates to a textile bobbin and spindle assembly in which a prior, specifically constructed spindle incorporates the improvement of a magnetic bobbin seater thereon.

In textile yarn processing machines, such as spinning frames or the like, it has been conventional to utilize rotating spindle assemblies for receiving hollow, generally cylindrical bobbins with a steel ferrule at the bottom thereof. In some of these assemblies, particularly in the United States, the bobbins were normally forced friction fitted onto tapered spindles for rotation therewith during the yarn processing operation. In other of these assemblies, particularly in Europe, a spindle was utilized which had an upper generally cylindrical portion of less diameter than the hollow interior of the bobbin and a lower portion of greater diameter than the bobbin and the upper portion and which defined a generally flat seating surface extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle at the juncture of the upper and lower portions. This seating surface was utilized for receiving and seating the bobbin on the spindle. To prevent longitudinal movement of the bobbin on the spindle, several springloaded buttons were mounted into the spindle on the upper portion thereof for frictionally engaging the hollow interior of the bobbin for holding the bobbin on the spindle during rotation of the spindle for yarn processing.

However, this latter spring button type of spindle assembly has not been entirely satisfactory inasmuch as during high speed rotation of the spindle for yarn processing, the bobbins tend to creep up or move longitudinally up the spindle due to centrifugal force which causes irregularity and malfunctioning of the yarn processing operation. Also, in recent times and due to the time consumption and labor requirements for doffing a bobbin from the spindle, the textile industry has been leaning toward automatic doffing equipment which utilizes apparatus to engage the upper end of a full bobbin and lift it longitudinally off the spindle for doffing same. The use of this automatic doffing equipment with the button-type spindles has proven to be somewhat unsatisfactory due to the varying or nonuniform force required to disengage different bobbins from the button-type spindle.

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to overcome the above problems with a button-type spindle and bobbin assembly and to provide a bobbin seater arrangement which uniformly holds down the bobbin on the spindle for easy doffing and which prevents longitudinal movement of the bobbin on the spindle during the yarn processing operation.

It has been found by this invention that the above object may be accomplished by providing the combination of a driven, rotating elongate spindle for receiving a hollow bobbin thereon which has a generally cylindrical, bobbin receiving upper portion and a generally cylindrical lower portion, of greater diameter than the bobbin and the upper portion, and which defines a flat seating surface extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle at the juncture of the upper and lower portions, and a magnetic bobbin seater positioned on the spindle generally at the seating surface for rotation with the spindle and for receiving the lower metallic end of the bobbin. The magnetic bobbin seater comprises a magnetized member and a non-magnetized member so arranged for establishing a magnetic circuit which passes through the magnetized member, partially through the spindle and through the lower metallic portion of the bobbin for magnetically seating the bobbin on the spindle to prevent longitudinal movement of the bobbin with respect to the spindle during rotation and which permits easy breaking of the magnetic seating and thereby easy doffing of the bobbin from the spindle. With this arrangement, the spring loaded buttons of the above specifically constructed spindle may be removed.

Although magnetic bobbin seaters have previously been suggested for overcoming difficulties with the above described forced friction fit bobbin and spindle assemblies as disclosed in U.S. Pats. Nos. 3,510,079 and 3,525,478, both of which are assigned to the as signee of the present application, these prior patents do not suggest the specific type of bobbin seater with the specifically constructed spindle of this invention. Although the previously issued patents may dominate the present invention, the present. invention is an improvement over these patents for the specifically constructed spindle described herein and specifically set forth in the subsequent claims.

Some of the objects and advantages of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, broken away, of the prior button type spindle, with a bobbin shown positioned thereon in phantom, this figure representing the prior art and being thuslabeled;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view taken through the prior art spindle of FIG. 1 illustrating details of the spring loaded buttons therein, this figure also representing prior art and being so labeled;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the spindle of FIG. 1, with the spring loaded but tons removed, combined with the magnetic bobbin seater of this invention and showing a bobbin in positioned thereon;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view, broken away, of the magnetic bobbin seater utilized in the assembly of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a view like FIG. 3, but illustrating an alternate form of a magnetic bobbin seater; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view, broken away, of the alternate form of magnetic bobbin seater utilized in the assembly of FIG. '5.

Referring now to the drawings, in FIGS. 1 and 2 which constitute and are labeled prior art", there is shown a button type spindle 10. These spindles 10 are rotatably driven and utilized in yarn processing machines, such as spinning frames or the like, in a manner well understood by those with ordinary skill in the art.

The spindle 10 comprises a generally cylindrical upper portion 11 for receiving a bobbin B thereon, as shown in FIG. 1. Conventional bobbins B also include a metallic lower portion or ferrule F, as shown in FIGS. I and 3. The spindle 10 further includes a generally cylindrical lower portion 12 of a greater diameter than the bobbin and the upper portion 11 and which defines a generally flat upper seating surface 13 which extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle 10 at the juncture of the upper portion 11 and the lower portion 12. These prior spindles 10 further include a plurality of spring loaded buttons 15 positioned in recesses within the upper portion 11 of the spindle 10, in the manner shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. As discussed above, the bobbins B were previously positioned on these specifically constructed spindles 10 in such a manner that the lower metallic ferrule F of the bobbin B engaged the seating surface 13 and the bobbins B were held in position thereon by the spring loaded buttons 15.

In accordance with this invention, the spring loaded buttons 15 have been removed from the upper portion 11 of the spindle 10, as may be seen by the empty apertures in FIGS. 3 and 5. Combined with the spindle 10 in accordance with this invention is a magnetic bobbin seater, generally indicated at 20. The magnetic bobbin seater 20 is positioned on the spindle 10 generally at the seating surface 13 for rotation with the spindle l and for receiving the lower metallic end or ferrule F of the bobbin B, as shown in FIG. 3. The magnetic bobbin seater 20 comprises broadly a magnetized member 22 and a non-magnetized member 24 so arranged for establishing a magnetic circuit which, as shown in phantom lines in FIGS. 3 and 5, passes through the magnetized member 22, partly through the spindle l0 and through the lower metallic portion or ferrule F of the bobbin B for magnetically seating the bobbin on the spindle to prevent longitudinal movement of the bobbin with respect to the spindle during rotation of the spindle and which permits easy breaking of the magnetic seating and thereby easy doffing of the bobbin from the spindle.

Referring to the specific embodiment of the magnetic bobbin seater 20 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the magnetized member 22 is in the form of a hollow cylindrical member which is positioned around the lower portion 12 of the spindle generally at the juncture of the upper and lower portions 11 and 12. There is also provided a pole piece 26 in the form of a hollow cylindrical member which is positioned around the magnetized member 22 and includes an inwardly extending, generally perpendicular flange 27 at the upper end thereof which is positioned around the seating surface 13 of the spindle 10 for receiving the ferrule F of the bobbin B, in the manner shown in FIG. 3. This flange portion 27 terminates short of engagement with the upper portion 11 of the spindle 10 to define a space therebetween. The non-magnetized member 24 comprises a ring member positioned on the seating surface 13 of the spindle l0 and extends between the flange portion 27 and the magnetized member 22, as may be seen in FIG. 3.

The magnetized member 22 of the embodiment of FIG. 3 is magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the spindle 10, as may be seen by the double arrowhead in FIG. 3 indicating North and South poles of magnetization. With this arrangement, including a pole piece 26, the strength of the magnetic circuit is increased and the lines of flux in the magnetic circuit pass through the magnetized member 22, partially through the spindle 10, through the metal ferrule F on the bobbin B, and partially through the pole piece 26, as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, there is shown an alternate form of the magnetic bobbin seater, generally indicated by the reference numeral 20. This form of magnetic bobbin seater 20' also includes a magnetized member 22 and a non-magnetized member 24. The magnetized member 22 is in the form of a ring positioned around the upper portion 11 of the spindle 10. The magnetic ring member 22 includes a lower surface resting on the seating surface 13 formed at the juncture of the upper portion 11' and the lower portion 12' of the spindle 10'. The upper surface of the magnetic ring member 22' is adapted to receive the metallic ferrule F ofa bobbin B. The non-magnetic member 24' is in the form of a ring member positioned between the magnetized ring member 22' and the upper portion 11' of the spindle 10'. The magnetized member 22' is magnetized in a direction parallel with the longitudinal axis of the spindle 10, as may be seen by the double arrowhead in FIG. 5 indicating North and South poles of magnetization.

With this arrangement, a magnetic circuit is formed with lines of flux which pass through the magnetized member 22', partly through the spindle 10' and through the metallic ferrule F of the bobbin B as shown by the phantom lines in FIG. 5.

In both of the embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 5, any suitable type of magnetized material may be used. With respect to the arrangement of FIG. 3 in which a pole piece is utilized, it has been found that commercially available rubber-bonded barium ferrite material is suitable, and in the embodiment of FIG. 5, it has been found that a polyurethane or other similar tough plastic material with ferrite particles embedded therein will provide a stronger magnetized member which will function without a pole piece. The pole piece utilized in the embodiment of FIG. 3 may be constructed of any suitable material which will conduct magnetic flux and low carbon steel has been found particularly suitable for this purpose. The non-magnetized member utilized in both embodiments may be constructed of any nonmagnetic conducting material, such as Celcon" plastic or other suitable material. The spindle itself and the metallic ferrule on the bobbin are both of magnetically conductive material and are normally formed of steel or other suitable metal.

Thus, it may be seen that this invention has provided a magnetic bobbin seater for a specifically constructed spindle to overcome the problems heretofore existing with such a spindle.

In the drawings and specification, there have been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

What is claimed is:

1. In a textile bobbin and spindle assembly for rotating to affect winding or other processing of yarn on a bobbin which includes a metallic portion on at least a lower end thereof; the combination of:

a driven, rotating, elongate spindle for receiving a hollow bobbin thereon and having a generally cylindrical, bobbin receiving, upper portion and a generally cylindrical lower portion, of greater diameter than the bobbin and said upper portion, and defining a generally flat seating surface extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said spindle at the juncture of said upper and lower portions; and

a magnetic bobbin seater positioned on said spindle generally at said seating surface for rotation with said spindle and for receiving the lower metallic end of the bobbin, said magnetic bobbin seater comprising a magnetized member and a non-magnetized member so arranged for establishing a magnetic circuit which passes through said magnetized member, partly through said spindle and through the lower metallic portion of the bobbin for magnetically seating the bobbin on said spindle to prevent longitudinal movement of the bobbin with respect to said spindle during rotation and which permits easy breaking of the magnetic seating and thereby easy doffing of the bobbin from said spindle, said magnetic bobbin seater further including a metallic pole piece surrounding said magnetized member for partial passage therethrough of the magnetic circuit to increase the strength of the magnetic circuit, said magnetized member comprising a hollow cylindrical member positioned around said lower portion of aid spindle generally at the juncture of said upper and lower portions, said pole piece comprising a hollow cylindrical member positioned around said magnetized member and having an inwardly extending, generally perpendicular flange at the upper end thereof which is positioned around said seating surface for receiving the metallic lower end of the bobbin, said flange portion terminating short of engagement with said upper portion of said spindle to define a space therebetween, and said nonmagnetized member comprising a ring member positioned on said seating surface of said spindle and extending between said flange portion of said pole piece and said magnetized member.

2. In a textile bobbin and spindle assembly, as set forth in claim 1, in which said magnetized member is magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said spindle. 

1. In a textile bobbin and spindle assembly for rotating to affect winding or other processing of yarn on a bobbin which includes a metallic portion on at least a lower end thereof; the combination of: a driven, rotating, elongate spindle for receiving a hollow bobbin thereon and having a generally cylindrical, bobbin receiving, upper portion and a generally cylindrical lower portion, of greater diameter than the bobbin and said upper portion, and defining a generally flat seating surface extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said spindle at the juncture of said upper and lower portions; and a magnetic bobbin seater positioned on said spindle generally at said seating surface for rotation with said spindle and for receiving the lower metallic end of the bobbin, said magnetic bobbin seater comprising a magnetized member and a nonmagnetized member so arranged for establishing a magnetic circuit which passes through said magnetized member, partly through said spindle and through the lower metallic portion of the bobbin for magnetically seating the bobbin on said spindle to prevent longitudinal movement of the bobbin with respect to said spindle during rotation and which permits easy breaking of the magnetic seating and thereby easy doffing of the bobbin from said spindle, said magnetic bobbin seater further including a metallic pole piece surrounding said magnetized member for partial passage therethrOugh of the magnetic circuit to increase the strength of the magnetic circuit, said magnetized member comprising a hollow cylindrical member positioned around said lower portion of aid spindle generally at the juncture of said upper and lower portions, said pole piece comprising a hollow cylindrical member positioned around said magnetized member and having an inwardly extending, generally perpendicular flange at the upper end thereof which is positioned around said seating surface for receiving the metallic lower end of the bobbin, said flange portion terminating short of engagement with said upper portion of said spindle to define a space therebetween, and said nonmagnetized member comprising a ring member positioned on said seating surface of said spindle and extending between said flange portion of said pole piece and said magnetized member.
 2. In a textile bobbin and spindle assembly, as set forth in claim 1, in which said magnetized member is magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said spindle. 